Free Outrageous Fortune by Patricia Wentworth Page B

from hers. The water ran over the lip of the bowl into her lap. Then, before she could recover herself, he reached out and caught her by the throat.

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    Nesta was a brave woman, but she was taken most utterly by surprise. She tried to call out, to push him away, but her voice choked under his grip. The blood sang in her ears, and the darkness was full of fiery sparks. Then quite suddenly she was free. She sat back on her heels, gasping for breath. The sparks died out, and she heard him say in a sharp, bewildered voice,
    â€œWho’s there?”
    He repeated the question again at once.
    â€œWho’s there? Speak, can’t you! What’s happened?”
    Nesta stumbled to her feet.
    â€œYou’ve done your best to strangle me.”
    She heard him say, “I’m drenched”; and then, “What are you doing here?” And with that, he was out of bed and switching on the light.
    All Nesta’s nerve had not kept her from a sharp recoil which took her back to the mantelpiece.
    He stood against the door and looked first at her and then at the bed. He might well say that he was drenched. When Nesta threw up her hand to try and push him away she had still held the bowl of water. It struck his shoulder, overturned, and sent a cold cascade down his back. The shock of it brought him broad awake. His hands let go their hold. He’d been strangling someone. Who? Good Lord—where was he? What a nightmare! He’d been dreaming. But this wasn’t a dream, for there was Nesta with her hand at her throat; and there, tipped up on the bed, was a yellow china bowl. The bed itself showed a large wet patch where the clothes were flung back.
    He swung round on Nesta.
    â€œWhat’s the meaning of this?”
    She had been frightened, and now she was angry. She could not bridle her tongue.
    â€œYou dangerous brute! You might have killed me!” Her voice broke on a sob of pure rage.
    â€œI’m sorry—but what were you doing in my room?”
    â€œI’m your wife!”
    â€œI don’t think you were here as my wife.”
    Nesta flung up her head.
    â€œWhat d’you mean by that? You half kill me one minute and insult me the next!”
    â€œI don’t think it’s as bad as all that. You can talk all right—” He stopped and ducked sharply. There was a rough lump of pink and grey quartz in the middle of the mantelpiece. Nesta had swept it off and pitched it at his head. It missed, crashed against the door, and fell heavily.
    Next moment he had her by the wrists.
    â€œLook here, that’s enough of that! Pull yourself together. If you don’t, I’ll empty the water jug over you—and you can explain to your sister-in-law why I did it. Take a few deep breaths and count a hundred! I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I’ve been knocking about in some fairly rough places, and if anyone creeps into my room in the dark and puts a hand on me, it’s their look out—I don’t stop to think—I shouldn’t be here now if I did.”
    Nesta had ceased to struggle. Now she suddenly leaned towards him.
    â€œWhere have you been?”
    He dropped her wrist, stepped back, and looked at her, frowning.
    â€œI—don’t—know.”
    â€œYou must know. You said—”
    He passed his hand across his brow.
    â€œWhat did I say?”
    She laughed, half angrily.
    â€œYou said you’d lived in some pretty rough parts the last few years. I believe you too, the way you tried to strangle me. My lord, Jimmy—you’ve got a grip!” She broke off suddenly. “D’you mean to say you don’t remember what you said?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œNo—it’s gone.”
    She looked at him curiously.
    â€œYou don’t know where you lived or what you did before I met you? Honest Injun?”
    He shook his head again.
    â€œWell, I’m blessed!” She began to laugh. “It’s a rum start,